Wednesday 14 October 2015 15:26, UK
Former Scotland international Kenny Logan believes the three-week bans handed out to hooker Ross Ford and lock Jonny Gray are a "sick joke".
Ford and Gray will miss the remainder of the Rugby World Cup after they were punished for a clearout of Jack Lam at a ruck during the pool victory over Samoa, which secured Vern Cotter's side a quarter-final meeting with Australia at Twickenham on Sunday.
The pair were cited by Australian citing commissioner Scott Nowland over the incident and were found guilty of a dangerous tackle on Tuesday.
An initial five-week ban was reduced to three because of mitigating circumstances, but Scottish Rugby have expressed their "disappointment" at the ban and confirmed they are considering an appeal pending a review of the full judgement.
Former winger Logan compared the ban with an off-field yellow card handed to Australia's David Pocock for a knee in the back of Wales hooker Scott Baldwin and a one-match ban given to Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien for punching a French opponent.
"This is a sick joke," Logan told the Daily Telegraph. "Pocock clearly knees Baldwin in the back but gets off with a slap on the wrist, and Ireland's Sean O'Brien gets a week ban after a premeditated punch on Pascal Pape in full sight of the referee.
"Two Scottish players with a perfect disciplinary record get a three-week ban for clearing out a player with no malicious intent at a ruck just because he fell awkwardly. There is no level playing field. This is a shameful decision. World Rugby has totally devalued a World Cup quarter-final."
In order to try and minimise serious head and neck injuries, World Rugby insists on heavy punishments for tackles where a player is lifted above the horizontal but not helped safely back to ground. Scotland have until Thursday to appeal the decision.
